what matters

Over the past three years my life has had some big changes. I had a child, lost my father-in-law(a wonderful man), my husband's career is pending, and the economy crashed making my business(and income)very erratic. I even lost my old faithful canine, my friend. I know, I know this is just life. Life throws you curveballs, yadda, yadda, yadda. Through these past 3 years, I've had time to evaluate and REevaluate our situation. The financial crisis has not just affected my family and I, but the whole world as well. We have been forced to minimize our lifestyles, to check ourselves, figure out what's important. Little "luxuries" like four dollar coffees have gone by the wayside, saved for special days. Take-out lunches or dinners have also taken a back seat. Vacations have been put on hold while we work more, get paid less, and try to figure this all out. We drive ourselves crazy holding onto hope. We have heard big promises by big politicians yet nothing seems to happen. As another job falls through we tell ourselves we have our health, our homes, we are lucky. This is little consolation to our spoiled society. We are used to having what we want when we want it. I am under the opinion that this giant financial snarl had to happen. Our lives had become excessive. Did we need to drive giant vehicles(Hummers, really?) while we fight oil baring countries in a war where the reason for the fight has been forgotten? Our winter migration left Florida in the sand while we took ourselves to more exotic locales to escape the lingering cold. Couldn't afford it, who cares put it on the plastic! Everything paid on credit. So silly, so ridiculous. It is only as an adult that I can realize how crazy all these expenditures are. Believe me I want to  travel, go shopping, do "normal" things like going out to dinner, but are all these things really THAT important or are we just made to believe they are by the media hype that surrounds us daily? Our high tech lives have left us unable to communicate on an interpersonal basis. We can't even take the time to spell out full words when messaging. We tap our feet impatiently while waiting in lines that aren't even long enough to become impatient. Our manners have been forgotten, doors don't get held, people don't say please or thank you, and PLEASE don't get me started on littering!
Well, now that I've had my say on this cyber soapbox, I leave you with the reason for my rant. Rich or poor we are all here together. I believe it is the "little things" that matter most. I DO believe that holding the door for someone is important, saying please and thank you go a long way, and really is it that hard to keep our terra verde clean?? No, I suppose these small gestures won't save our economy, but hopefully they WILL help us make this awkward time together a little nicer. Goodnight world.